BTS's Suga Donates 5 Billion Won for Autism Treatment Center

On June 23, Severance Hospital announced the groundbreaking ceremony for the Min Yoongi Treatment Center, named after BTS's Suga, who donated 5 billion won to support children with autism spectrum disorder. Following this generous contribution, fans have begun to rally additional support.

As of 9 AM on June 24, donations from the public for the Min Yoongi Treatment Center surpassed 200 million won, just one day after the announcement of Suga's donation. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on the first floor of the hospital's Jejung-gwan building. Suga, whose real name is Min Yoongi, decided to make this significant donation after learning from Professor Cheon Geun-ah, a leading expert in child psychiatry at Severance Hospital, that children with autism require long-term treatment lasting over ten years. This donation marks the highest amount ever contributed by a celebrity to Yonsei Medical Center.

Following the news, the External Cooperation Office at Yonsei Medical Center received numerous inquiries about donations from both ARMY (the fandom name) and the general public. In response, the medical center added a dedicated section for the Min Yoongi Treatment Center on its official website for ongoing contributions. Within just six and a half hours, donations exceeded 100 million won, and within a day, they surpassed 200 million won. There has also been a surge in inquiries from international fans about how to contribute, suggesting that the total donations could increase significantly if overseas remittance options are made available.

The Min Yoongi Treatment Center is expected to be completed in September. It will provide various programs aimed at supporting the mental health of children and adolescents, including language, psychological, and behavioral therapies, while also integrating clinical and research efforts. Since March, Suga has been actively involved in developing programs by meeting with children with autism spectrum disorder on weekends. He expressed his gratitude and happiness for being part of the treatment process, stating, "It has been a great honor and joy to be involved in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder. I will continue to support efforts so that more children can be part of our society."